With the official opening of the 36-metre Rio 2016-themed Ferris wheel on New Years Eve at Copacabana Fort promoting Rio’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro’s new mayor Eduardo Paes signed a package of guarantees in support of the bid.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Secretary General of Rio 2016 said, “the Rio 2016 Wheel will be one of the icons of the campaign. The union of the three government levels, the sport confederations and the Brazilian people, gives us an advantage in this race. There is no better place to celebrate the Olympic Games”.
Luiz Barretto, Minister of Tourism, said the Rio 2016 bid will be a window to other opportunities. “Other cities in the world have been transformed by the Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro has always been the gateway for visitors to Brazil and the staging of the 2016 Olympic Games would solidify the city’s role”.
The city’s Mayor also approved a series of measures which will be adopted should it be chosen to host the 2016 Games. One of the measures specifically addresses and prohibits the unauthorized use of symbols associated with the Olympic Games. He also signed all of the municipal guarantees required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Also, a working group will be formed to organize the city for the IOC Evaluation Commission’s visit April 27 to May 3.
